So, how should we line up for Wednesday's even bigger game now, especially up front?

Pre-game, I didn't agree with BR's deision to play Shola. With hindsight I think he was correct. While Shola contributed very little; his replacement, Lx3, was useless; while he was not on for very long, CC looked way, way short of fitness. In conclusion, with Bernard apparently injured Bobby had no real choice but to play Shola.

Shola and Shearer generally lacked movement and pace - which should have been no great surprise. For me, this dictated that we had to use our wingers to get to the bye-line and get in a stream of crosses for the two biggish guys. In the event, we tried to play our normal game but without the vital ingredient - CB's pace. Trying to play through the middle without CB was destined to fail I'm afraid, and without him we MUST adapt the team pattern to capitalise on the individual strengths of the players we are left with.

Shola was so utterly ineffective yesterday, that at Liverpool I would play Robert up front with AS, and bring Bernard into m/f - assuming he is available. This would stiffen the m/f, and free up Robert from any defensive responsibility allowing him to show us what he is capable of when he is able to concentrate 100% on attacking the opposition. I note he has recently been making noises about not being a left-winger - well, "go score some bloody goals for us".

Final observation, AS badly needs to be rested: unfortunately, he has no chance.

-- Anonymous, March 03, 2002

Answers

Well, speaking pesonally, when I line up for pool, I wear a natty pair of shorts, belly hanging over the waist-line and toes curled over the tiled edge. Then, with a great flourish, I half empty the bliddy thing when I hit the waata.

Oh, you didn't mean that pool?? Wednesday - biggest game of the midweek for us by far. I'd really like to see Robert given a chance up front. But as you say, this leaves us pretty exposed on the left if Bernard is injured. However, .COM reckons in the "Player section" that Bernard is available. If so, I'd play him wide on the left. I guess Quinn could play out there or possibly even Distin, who has been rumoured to have played M/F in France.

Big question for me is whether to play Dabs. Good that he's been this season so far, he had a bit of a poor game yesterday, and of course, YMO will relish the opportunity to play against his favourite CH. Let's say we don't play Dabs. That has to mean Robbie Elliott coming in (shudder).

Of course, it true NUFC fashion, we could see LKD playing :-(

-- Anonymous, March 03, 2002

For me, Distin HAS to play left back.

If this means playing Robbie Elliott then so be it, but Distin is the only one who is anywhere near quick enough to track Michael Owen's runs.

I too would like to see Robert up front, but it's down to Bernard being fit I suppose.

It will be a completely different game to Arsenal, as Liverpool will attack us, not sit back and defend. If we get the ball to Robert and Solano, we can win a few free kicks - set pieces are our best hope of scoring IMHO as Shearer can be targeted from them, not just hope he makes it into the box in time from open play.

-- Anonymous, March 03, 2002

Id definetly play Robert up front at Liverpool +Lua on the left with minimal defensive duties.

-- Anonymous, March 03, 2002

I cant really agree that we should play Robert up front. If Cort can play from start I think he should, he is a striker and he has scored pretty many goals in few starts for us. If Cort cant play from start then I agree, Shola didnt look good yesterday.

I dont know if its Roberts fault that he dont get the balls but we should play much more trough him. I think he almost always does something positive with the ball getting the ball in the penalty box or gaining a free kick. Yesterday we absolutely should have played more on his wing, keeping Pires more out of the game. Hughes had real problems with him, at least in the beginning of the match.

-- Anonymous, March 03, 2002

Actually i wudnt play Lua till later but surely Robert is the obvious choice when well be mainly counterattacking for this game.

-- Anonymous, March 03, 2002